The Office of the Chief Justice is inviting suitably qualified applicants to apply for several vacancies in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Makhanda. These posts include Law Researcher, Judge’s Secretary, Administration Clerk and Security Officer positions.
Applicants who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply before the closing date of 12 May 2026.
Vacancy Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Employer | Office of the Chief Justice |
| Closing Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Location | Free State, Gauteng and Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Available Posts
Law Researcher
Reference Number: 2026/05/OCJ
Posts: X2
Salary: R487 197 – R573 897 per annum (Level 09)
Centre: Free State High Court: Johannesburg
Requirements:
- LLB degree or four-year recognised legal qualification
- Minimum 3 years’ legal research experience
- Superior court or litigation experience will be an added advantage
- LLM degree and valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage
Duties:
- Provide legal research support to Judges
- Analyse statutes, rules, regulations and case law
- Prepare legal opinions and memoranda
- Support drafting and proofreading of judgments
- Monitor recent legal developments
Law Researcher
Reference Number: 2026/06/OCJ
Salary: R487 197 – R573 897 per annum (Level 09)
Centre: Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein
Requirements:
- LLB degree or four-year recognised legal qualification
- Minimum 3 years’ legal research experience
- Knowledge of domestic and international legal databases
- LLM degree and valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage
Duties:
- Conduct legal research for Judges
- Prepare research memoranda
- Proofread judgments, articles and speeches
- Verify legal references and footnotes
- Draft speeches, conference notes and legal articles
Law Researcher
Reference Number: 2026/07/OCJ
Salary: R487 197 – R573 897 per annum (Level 09)
Centre: Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein
Requirements and duties: Same as the Law Researcher post above.
Note: This is a re-advertisement. Candidates who previously applied do not need to reapply.
Judge’s Secretary
Reference Number: 2026/08/OCJ
Salary: R338 106 – R398 277 per annum (Level 07)
Centre: Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein
Requirements:
- Grade 12 certificate
- Minimum 2 years’ secretarial experience
- LLB degree, Bachelor of Law or at least 20 modules towards LLB/BA Law will be an added advantage
- Legal or court environment experience and valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage
Duties:
- Provide legal secretarial and administrative support to the Judge
- Type correspondence, judgments and orders
- Manage appointments, travel and accommodation arrangements
- Safeguard case files and update court documents
- Compile court statistics and perform legal research when required
Administration Clerk: Asset Controller
Reference Number: 2026/09/OCJ
Salary: R237 453 – R279 708 per annum (Level 05)
Centre: Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Makhanda
Requirements:
- Grade 12 or equivalent qualification
- No experience required
- Valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage
Duties:
- Maintain the asset register
- Conduct physical verification of assets
- Report stolen, lost, damaged or obsolete assets
- Monitor leased assets and expiring contracts
- Support the court with asset administration
Security Officer
Reference Number: 2026/10/OCJ
Posts: X4
Salary: R170 226 – R200 523 per annum (Level 03)
Centre: Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria
Requirements:
- Grade 10 or equivalent qualification
- Basic Security Officer’s course registered with PSIRA
- Minimum 1 year experience in the security industry
- Valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage
Duties:
- Monitor security services at the court
- Control access and monitor CCTV systems
- Report incidents and support emergency procedures
- Conduct building inspections and patrols
- Assist with crowd control during busy and high-profile court matters
How to Apply
Applications for these Office of the Chief Justice vacancies must be submitted using the correct email address for each post.
| Post | Email Address |
|---|---|
| Law Researcher: 2026/05/OCJ | 2026/05/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
| Law Researcher: 2026/06/OCJ | 2026/06/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
| Law Researcher: 2026/07/OCJ | 2026/07/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
| Judge’s Secretary | 2026/08/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
| Administration Clerk: Asset Controller | 2026/09/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
| Security Officer | 2026/10/OCJ@judiciary.org.za |
Applications must include:
- New Z83 form
- Recent comprehensive CV
- Contactable referees with telephone numbers and email addresses
Important Notes
- Closing date: 12 May 2026
- Applications must be submitted in PDF format
- Use the correct job title, office and reference number
- Only shortlisted candidates will submit certified documents
- Shortlisted candidates will undergo assessments and suitability checks
- Applications on the old Z83 form will not be considered
- If you do not hear back within 3 months, consider your application unsuccessful